MassDOT Modernizes Infrastructure Oversight with Drone Technology

Synopsis

When a bridge in Northbridge closed for repairs, MassDOT didn’t just send crews, they launched a drone.

The agency’s Aeronautics Drone Operations Program is deploying high-resolution and thermal drones to inspect bridges, roads, runways, and state buildings faster and more safely. “We have one job, and it is to gather data to help improve transportation in Massachusetts,” said Chris Grazioso, Chief UAS Operations for MassDOT. By flying just feet from critical assets, inspectors capture detailed imagery that increases efficiency and reduces risk, helping engineers move projects forward without putting people in harm’s way.

Since launching the program in 2018, demand has surged. “It increases our efficiency. It’s very safe,” the team explained, describing how drone access has reshaped workflows across the department. With 30 licensed pilots and growing, MassDOT is scaling a modern approach to managing aging infrastructure, keeping the Commonwealth’s bridges, rails, and roads moving safely into the future.